Final Blitz

Second Post of the Day

It's a big day today for our family - with the exception of Frank, all our family is arriving! (It's also got some sadness coupled with it as we remember our James. You just never know, do you?)

When our kids and their families are all here, it will truly be CHRISTMAS!! And I cannot wait.

Yesterday was jam packed as I did the final wrap up (literally) of Christmas preparations. I am waiting on six gifts to arrive, but I'm not too worried about them - I think they will be here in time. If not, I can make some "Stay 'tooned" coupons for the recipients.

Yesterday, we had FIVE different stops by delivery trucks.

This was the fifth and final delivery that arrived late in the afternoon. My heart sank when I saw it - I'd already been busy wrapping everything else that had arrived that day. But as I began carrying the boxes in, I discovered that almost all of them were to go straight to the spa tub! Yeeha!!

I don't have to open, wrap, and break down the boxes for any of these! I did wrap all the pet gifts in the box that is perched on the edge of the tub. Those gift bags smell VERY interesting to Pepper and Tammo, and so I decided to remove the temptation and put it where they did not have to smell it. 

There are 75 gifts wrapped, ready to go, and (mostly) sorted into family groups running alongside the wall in our bedroom. I can barely get to my side of the bed, there is so much stuff in there!

In between wrapping sessions yesterday, I started hanging ornaments on the tree in earnest. I got all those that had family photos up along with my Breyer and other horse ornaments, but it seemed that I was barely making a dent in the pile that was spread out across the dining room table. I decided to change tactics.

I'd delegate.  My family loved these ornaments and would be happy to help. I'd just sort them into piles, giving each child ones that I knew they loved, had given me or made, etc. and they and their families could hang those when they got here.

Bingo! It was a great solution.

Craig's ornaments. Note they are heavy on football (just as mine are heavy on horses.) All but two of them are football related.

Hawkeye Sarah's ornaments.

Mountain Mama Jessica's ornaments.

Beach Son Kyle's pile.

Teacher Daughter Lisa's.

Local Son Curt's group.

and Music City Son Cole's.

I can't wait to see how the tree looks when these are all hung. (Maybe I'll bring some more down, now that I have some help... )

Please Note: My office will have people staying in it for the next week. If I can, I will bring my desktop downstairs so I can still write. If blog posts are sporadic or missing, that's why. I'll do what I can.

Only a few more hours and all my family will be here!  Squeee!!